The Columbian’s editorial on Aug. 21, “In Our View — Bargain for Sustainability,” argues that school districts shouldn’t give teachers too much because of the availability of money in future years. This is the kind of argument that employers use to keep from giving employees the raises they deserve.
Teachers have the same right to join together to fight for better salaries and benefits as any other working people do. I was a teacher and member of the Washington Education Association in the 1960s. One district I taught at in Eastern Washington asked us to forgo salary increases to help pass a levy. After the levy passed, the superintendent and assistant superintendent gave themselves raises. This showed me that teachers have to be suspicious about the arguments administrators use against raising teachers’ salaries.
A letter, also on Aug. 21, “Teacher complaint rings hollow,” stated that teachers who want more money should become administrators. We want the best teachers to stay in the classroom. Forcing our best teachers to become administrators will weaken education, not improve it. Teachers who want to become administrators should have the opportunity to do so, but good teachers shouldn’t be forced to do so just to earn enough to be able to support their families.
